Method of manufacturing compound-tapered wedges.



c. E. SWEET. METHOD or- MANUFACTURING GOMPOU'ND TAPERED wsnens.

APPLICATION FILED MATH, 1907. 940,749, Patented Nov. 23, 1-909.

2 sums-slum 1.

WITNESSES.-

c. E. SWEET, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING COMPOUND TAPERED WEDGES,

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 11, 1907.

940,7%9 Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- A TTORNE yqzv' FA CT,

munzw, I. amuu co.. Pnomu'maummzns. msummom a. c.

STATES OI-IABLES E. SIVEET, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTING- HOUSE MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING COMFOUND-TAPE RED WEDGES.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. SWEET, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of VVilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have made a new and useful Invention in Methods of Manufacturing Compound-Tapered Vvedge's,v of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to metallic wedges and more particularly to a method of manufacturing wedges having a double or compound taper.

In various arts it is necessary or advisable in constructing and assembling machine and other parts to utilize wedges. In some cases complementary or superimposed wedges, and in certain cases complementary compound wedges, are the most satisfactory. By a compound wedge is meant one substantially rectangular in general formation, and having a longitudinal as well as a transverse taper. A use for such wedges formed from iron or steel has arisen in the manufacture of steam turbines, for securing the blade or vane sections to their respective holding elements, but the cost of wedges produced by any of the processes heretofore known or utilized has been prohibitive.

An object of this invention has been to provide a method whereby accurate metallic wedges having a double taper, such as described, may be manufactured in large quantities at a relatively low cost.

In carrying out this method, a punching machine of any suitable design may be utilized, preferably one having a tiltable table for supporting the blank during the punching process. As these punching machines are common and their operation so well understood, none has been illustrated in this application.

In the drawings forming part of this application, the various steps, aside from the actual punching operation, have been illustrated and a number of views have been included which it is believed will illuminate the method in its various phases.

In the drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 illustrate three forms of slots which the complementary wed es illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are adapted to fit; Figs. 7 and 8 are end views of two forms of metallic blanks from which the wedges are cut or punched; Fig. 9 is an end View of two blanks superimposed for facilitating the punching operation;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 11, 1907.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

Serial No. 373,044.

In carrylng out this method, suitable metallic blanks, rolled or drawn to the proper cross section, are utilized; examples of these blanks are illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. The preferred form is illustrated in Fig. 7 and in this form the tendency to distort during the rolling or drawing operation is minimized. I

The finished blanks are passed through a suitable punching machine and Wedges are produced therefrom on diagonal or oblique lines, substantially as illustrated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. If the blanks are tapered in but one direction, as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, it is preferable to combine two, as shown in Fig. 9, and to punch a wedge from both blanks during a single operation. If blanks such as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 10 are utilized and the wedges are cut therefrom as indicated in Fig. 10, right and left hand wedges will be formed.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 10: A-B represents the maximum thickness of one of the wedges 14 and G-H the minimum thickness. M, N, O, P is one side of the wedge laid out on the blank and N and P when projected into Fig. 7 establish the lines E-F and GD respectively, which show the thickness of the wedge at the corners N and P. Since EF is less than AB and G-H less than CD, the sides represented by lIN and OP show a taper and the wedge tapers from the edge MP to the edge N-O. Likewise CD is less than A-B and GH less than EF. Therefore, ends MP and NO are tapered and the wedge tapers from the edge MN to the edge P-O. The longitudinal, as well as th transverse taper, is shown projected, or in the several portions comprised in Fig. 13. It will, therefore, be seen that by punching the wedge from the tapered blanks on lines running obliquely or diagonally of said blanks, compound or double taper wedges are produced.

By utilizing a perpendicularly reciprocable punch or other forming tool, and by inclining the blank from the horizontal as it undergoes the punching process, the angularity of the two narrow long sides of the wedges relative to the broad long sides formed by the top and bottom surfaces of the blank may be varied to suit the slot into which two complementary wedges thus formed are adapted to fit. As examples, wedges formed by varying the angles between the blank and forming tool are illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 and the slots which they are adapted to fit are shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 respectively.

Since this invention is generic in its scope, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The method of manufacturing compound tapered wedges, which consists in providing a simple wedge-shaped blank, and cutting from the blank rectangular wedges on lines extending obliquely thereof.

2. The method of manufacturing compound tapered wedges, which consists in forming a wedge-shaped blank, whose thickness varies from one longitudinal edge to the other, and cutting therefrom a plurality of rectangular wedges on lines extending across the same.

3'. The method of manufacturing compound tapered wedges, which consists in providing a wedge-shaped blank, and then cutting from the blank wedges extending obliquely thereof.

4. The method of manufacturing compound tapered wedges, which consists in forming a blank whose thickness varies from one longitudinal edge to the other, and cutting therefrom a plurality of wedges, the principal longitudinal axes of which extend obliquely across the same.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of May,

CHARLES E. SlVEET. Witnesses:

CHARLES lV. MCGHEE, E. WV. MoOALLIs'rEn. 

